Packaging machine



M. G. FRANKLIN PACKAGING MACHINE Oct. 6, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed D60. 19, 1967 INVENTOR. MAURICE G. FRANKLIN BY 7,1444 w m w ATTORNEYS Oct. 6, 1970 FRANKUN 3,531,914

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MAURI C E G. FRANKLIN ATTORNEYS Oct. 6, 1970 M. s. FRANKLIN PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 19, 1967 g, M l R MAURICE G FRANKLIN AT'TO R N EYS Oct. 6, 1970 M. e. FRANKLIN 3,531,914

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19. 1967 5 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR.

MAURICE Gr. FRAN KLIN ATTOR N EYS 1970 M. e. FRANKLIN 3,

PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 19, 1967 INVENTOR'.

MAURICE G. FRANKLIN ATTORNEYS United States Patent O Int. Cl. B651? 11/18 U.S. Cl. 53-230 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An automatic machine for wrapping a blank of corrugated paperboard around an article and for gluing the paperboard to form a sealed package. The machine comprises a frame having a vacuum platen vertically movable thereon, and a plurality of rods and abutments attached thereto and surrounding the vacuum platen. The article to be packaged is placed on the blank which is drawn downwardly by the platen over the rods and abutments to provide an open container formed by the bottom panel, the front and rear panels, and the inner end flaps of the blank. A plunger is mounted on the frame for horizontal movement by a piston, and when the platen reaches its lower position, the container is drawn laterally through the machine by the plunger. Said lateral movement causes the cover panel to be folded over the container by one of the rods, glue to be applied to the inner end flaps by glue guns mounted on the frame, and the outer end flaps to be sealed against the inner end flaps by forcing the container into a carriage. The carriage holds the inner and outer end flaps in contact with each other and is mounted on the frame to be transported horizontally, at right angles to the horizontal movement of the plunger, while glue is applied by another glue gun to the front panel; and, while the sealing flap is folded against the glued front panel to complete the sealed package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a packaging machine for automatically wrapping a blank of corrugated aperboard around a quantity of goods and closing the blank to form a sealed container. Packaging machinery of this type is generally characterized by its bulkiness and by the large area of floor space it requires. In many situations these characteristics are objectionable and therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a packaging machine which is fully automatic and yet very compact.

U.S. Pat. 2,270,264 issued to H. A. Carruth on Jan. 20, 1942, is representative of the prior art in this field, in that the packaging machine disclosed therein forms a container by means of a box-forming block which forces a blank into a mold. The goods are then inserted after the container has been formed and the block removed. Insertion of a plurality of small packages into a formed container is somewhat diflicult since the packages must be perfectly aligned if inserted simultaneously. Therefore, it is another object of this invention to provide a packaging machine capable of forming the blanks around the goods, thereby permitting the goods to be misaligned since the sides and ends of the blanks align the goods as the container is formed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention I provide an automatic machine for packaging goods with a flat blank of corrugated paperboard. The machine comprises a platen vertically movable within an opening in a frame; a plunger and a carriage, both horizontally movable within the machine; and a plurality of folding members and adhesive 3,531,914 Patented Oct. 6, 1970 ice applicators past which the blank is drawn by the movable elements to completely close and seal the container.

In particular, the machine comprises an L-shaped frame having a platen mounted thereon for vertical movement from an upper position adjacent the top of the frame to a position therewithin. The platen is provided with vacuum ports on its upper face for engaging a blank when the platen is raised, and for pulling the blank down into the machine as the platen is lowered. A plurality of folding members comprising rods and abutments are arranged to surround the platen and to fold the various panels and flaps of the blank into an open container as the platen descends. A plunger is mounted on the frame for horizontal movement along one leg of the L-shaped frame. The plunger moves the open container horizontally from its position over the lowered platen, past one of said rods which folds the cover panel closed, and past a plurality of glue guns which are mounted on the frame to apply glue to the inner end flaps of the carton. Plows, attached to the frame on opposed sides of the plungers horizontal path, fold the outer end flaps against the inner flaps, and the plunger moves the closed container into a carriage where pressure is maintained on the ends of the container. The carriage is horizontally movable along the other leg of the L-shaped frame. Mounted on said other leg is a glue gun for applying glue to the front panel of the box, and a plow for folding the sealing flap against the glued portion of the front panel. The carriage, as it continues its movement, may either eject the box if the glue is dried, or, if glue is still wet, the carriage may deposit the box under a plunger attached to the frame for vertical movement. The plunger pushes the container into an open ended four walled drying chamber. The containers are accumulated in the drying chamber until it is full, whereupon the lowermost container is ejected from the machine to make room in the chamber for the next container which is formed by the machine. A horizontally movable plunger 18 provided at the bottom of the chamber for ejecting the containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a packaging machine embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank of corrugated paperboard for use with the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of one end of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1, and showing the vacuum platen;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the vacuum platen, with the cabinet removed;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the blank carriage and horizontal plunger with the cabinet removed;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of one of the end plows shown in FIG. 5 and showing said plow engaging a pair of blank end flaps;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a partially folded blank;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the blank carriage and vertical plunger with the cabinet removed;

FIG. 9 is an end elevation of a sealing flap plow, in engagement with the sealing flap of the container;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a portion of the machine with portions thereof removed to show the vertical plunger, drying shaft, and ejecting plunger; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a modified blank of corrugated paperboard for use With the machine shown in FIG. 1.

3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The machine 10, shown in FIG. 1, is enclosed in a cabinet 12 which forms a horizontally disposed L-shaped structure having a uniform height and attached to an L-shaped frame 13. The upper face of the cabinet defines an opening 14 over which a blank of corrugated paperboard 16 is placed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the blank 16 is formed from a rectangular sheet of corrugated paper which is cut and scored to provide a bottom panel 30 and a cover panel 32 interconnected by a rear panel 34. A front panel 36 extends from the opposing edge of the bottom panel, and the junctions between the panels are defined by scored lines 38 disposed transversely on the sheet. A pair of longitudinal score lines 40 lying equidistant from the center of the sheet define inner end flaps 42 extending from the sides of the front and rear panels 36 and 34, and define bottom and top outer end flaps 44 and 46 extending respectively from the bottom and cover panels 30' and 32. The transverse score lines are cut through between the inner and outer end flaps. A sealing flap 48 extends from the cover panel along one of the transverse score lines to complete the blank.

A vacuum platen 18 formed from a plurality of suction cups as shown in FIG. 1, is mounted within the opening 14. The platen, shown in a raised position, is vertically movable within the machine to draw the blank 16 downward, across an arrangement of folding members comprising rods 22 and blocks 24. A vacuum pump 25, housed Within the cabinet 12, is operatively connected to the suction cups 20 through a valve (not shown) which is actuated by a foot pedal 26 mounted at the lower portion of the cabinet. A control panel 28 for turning the machine on and off, is mounted on the cabinet near its upper face.

When the vacuum platen 18 pulls the blank 16 downwardly into the machine, the front and rear panels 36 and 34 are folded up perpendicular with the bottom panel by the rods 22, and the inner end flaps 42 are folded inwardly perpendicular to the front and rear panels 36 and 34 by the blocks 24. The vacuum to the suction cups 20 is then released and the blank is drawn laterally, away from the vacuum platen, by a horizontally movable plunger assembly 50 which is shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

As the plunger assembly 50 moves laterally, the cover panel 32 is folded down, glue is applied to the inner end flaps 42, and the outer end flaps 44 and 46 are folded adjacent the inner flaps as illustrated in FIG. 7. The plunger 50 forces the folded container into a carriage 52 having arms 54 which hold the end flaps 42, 44 and 46 together while the glue dries.

The carriage 52 is movable laterally in the frame, perpendicular to the lateral movement of the plunger 50. During such lateral movement of the carriage 52, glue is applied to the front panel 36 of the blank and the sealing fiap 48 is folded against such glued portion to completely seal the container. The carriage 52 deposits the sealed container under a vertically movable second plunger 56.

Downward movement of the plunger 56 forces the sealed container into a rectangular drying chamber 58, shown in FIG. 8, which is dimensioned to support the outer flaps 44 and 46 against the glued inner flaps 42, and to support the sealing flap 48 against the front panel 36. An ejecting plunger assembly 59, laterally movable through the lower portion of the machine and shown in FIG. 8, ejects the sealed container from a cabinet opening 60 when the container is pushed out of the drying chamber 58. At the beginning of a packaging cycle the drying chamber may :be filled with dummy containers, to support the newly sealed containers against immediate ejection. Alternatively, the eject plunger may 4 be deactuated until the chamber has been filled with the newly sealed containers.

The vacuum platen 18, as shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes an E-shaped plate 62 having three extending arms 64 and an interconnecting arm 66. Each of the extending arms 64 is provided with a pair of the upwardly presented suction cups 20 connected together by a pipe 68 mounted on the arms 64 by brackets 70. The pipes 68 are connected by a manifold 69 extending along the arm 66. A flexible hose 72, attached to the pipe 69 is connected to the vacuum pump 25 to provide suction to the cups 20'. In the alternative, the pipes 68 and 69 may be dispensed with by casting a passageway in the arms of the plate 62 and coupling the hose 72 directly thereto.

The vacuum platen 18, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is reciprocably movable on a pair of vertical guide shafts 74 which are fixedly mounted at their upper and lower ends in blocks 75 attached to cross members of the frame 13 at one end thereof. A pair of ball bushings 76 are mounted on the under side of the interconnecting arm 66, at each end thereof, to support the plate 62 on the shafts 74 which pass through the bushings 76 and through holes 17 in the arm 66. The bushings and plate assembly is moved up and down on the shafts 74 by means of a vertically disposed air cylinder 80 mounted on the frame 13 and having its cooperating piston 82 attached at its upper end to the center of the interconnecting arm 66 by a plurality of bolts 84. Air is supplied to the cylinder 80 from an air compressor (not shown), and electrically operated valves (not shown) control the supply of air to sequentially retract and extend the piston 82.

The packaging cycle is commenced when the vacuum platen is in a raised position with the piston 82 extended. A blank 16 is properly positioned with its bottom panel 30 centered over the platen, and the foot pedal 26 is depressed to actuate the vacuum system. The vacuum cups 20 grasp the blank 16 and hold it in place while the articles to be packaged are placed on the bottom panel 30. A push-button on the control panel 28 is pressed to actuate a control valve to supply air from the compressor to the cylinder 80 to cause it to retract its piston.

The blank, which is held on the platen by the suction cups, is pulled downward across the rods 22 and blocks 24 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The blocks 24 are mounted on the frame 13 and spaced apart to define the four corners of a rectangle. As the blank begins its descent the inner end flaps 42 engage the blocks 24 and are folded upwardly. The rods are attached to the frame beneath the blocks. One pair of rods 22a, of the rods 22, are attached at both ends to the frame and extend in parallel with the interconnecting arm 66 near the platen end of the machine to fold the front panel 36 up as the platen descends A second pair of rods 22b are mounted at their ends in parallel with rods 22a and at the opposite side of the platen to fold the rear panel 34 upward as the blank is pulled down. One rod of each pair 22a and 22b is disposed below and inwardly from the other rod in the pair, to ensure that the bends are made gradually and accurately along the score lines 38. That is, the blank engages the outer and higher rods of each pair which bend the panels slightly, and then, as the blank continues its downward movement, it engages the inner and lower rods, which are spaced to coincide with the score lines 38 on the bottom panel 30. Another pair of rods 22c, of the rods 22, are fixed to the frame on opposed sides of the platen to engage the bottom outer end flaps 44 as the blank is drawn downwardly. The rods 22c are slanted with respect to the horizontal to fold the outer flaps 44 gradually along the score lines 40. Two additional pairs of rods 22d and 22e are cantilevered from the frame to complete the fold of the outer flaps 44. Again, one rod of each pair of rods 22d and 222 is disposed lower than, and inwardly from, the other rod of its pair, so that the folds of the outer flaps 44 are made accurately. The lower rods of the pairs 22d and 22a are positioned such that the bottom outer flaps 44 clear the lower rods as the blank reaches its lowest position on the platen, so that the side panels 44 spring away from the inner flaps 42 at the end of the blanks downward movement.

As the blank 16 reaches its lowest position in the opening 14, it engages two pairs of horizontally disposed rails 90 mounted on the frame 13. The pairs of rails 90, shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, extend from the carriage 52 and terminate in the two spaces between the arms 64 of the plate 62, whereby the vacuum platen is movable up and down through the plane of the rails. As the platen 18 moves through the plane of the rails 90, the blank contacts said rails and actuates a limit-switch 92 which deactuates the vacuum system to release the suction cups from the blank.

The limit switch 92 actuates the control valve for a second air cylinder 94 whose piston 96 is connected to the horizontally movable plunger assembly 50. The plunger assembly comprises a horizontal plate 98 mounted on ball bushings 100 movably supported on a pair of shafts 102 carried in support blocks 104 mounted on the frame. A pair of plunger arms 106 extend upwardly from the plate 98, with one of said arms projecting upwardly between one pair of rails 90' and the other arm projecting upwardly between the other pair of rails. When the piston 96 is in its fully extended position, the arms 106 are disposed beneath the rods 22a, and between the arms 64 of the plate 62, so that the arms 106 do not interfere with the blank as it is pulled downwardly on the platen 18. When the piston 96 is retracted by the air cylinder 94, plates 107 on the arms 106 engage the front panel 36 of the blank and pull said blank toward the carriage 52. The air cylinder 94 is pivotally attached intermediate its length on a trunnion mounting 95, on the frame 13, to permit the cylinder to move slightly during the stroke of the piston 96 and prevent said piston from becoming jammed.

As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of adhesive applicators comprising glue guns 108 are mounted on the frame at the sides of the plunger assembly 50, intermediate its path of movement. The guns 108 are actuated by means of a cam 110 which operates a valve (not shown) causing said guns to apply glue to the inner end flaps 42 as the blank is moved past them by the plates 107. The cam 110 comprises two blocks, attached to the plunger assembly 50, which alternately contact the valve to energize the glue guns at the proper time during the lateral movement of the blank. As the blank begins its lateral movement, under the action of plates 107, it is in the configuration shown in FIG. 7, with its cover 32 projecting upward as indicated in dotted lines. The lowermost rod of the pair 22b engages said cover 32 and folds it downwardly to its position in parallelism with the bottom panel 30, as shown in full lines in FIG. 7.

A pair of fork-shaped plows 112 are mounted on the frame 13, between the guns 108 and carriage 52, to engage the outer flaps 44 and fold them against the glued flaps 42 as the blank moves from said guns to the carriage 52.

-Each of said plows 112 comprises a plate having a V- notch cut longitudinally therein, with the vertex of the V disposed toward the carriage 52 and disposed inwardly from the resultant pointed ends forming the leading edges 113 of the plows. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, the pointed ends 113 of the plows engage the bottom outer flaps 44 to fold them upwardly, and the top outer flaps 46 to fold them downwardly, forcing said bottom and top outer end flaps 44 and 46 inwardly against the glued inner flaps 42. As the plunger assembly 50 continues its lateral movement toward the carriage 52, the container is forced into said carriage, with the arms 54 thereof holding the outer flaps 44 and 46 against the glued inner flaps 42 while the glue is allowed to dry.

The carriage arms 54 comprise a pair of vertical plates in parallelism with the rails 90. The forward end of each carriage arm 54 is beveled, as shown at 114, to ease the reception of the container into the carriage. As shown in FIG. 8, the rear ends 116 of the arms 54 are connected to the inner parallel faces 118 of a channel-shaped bracket 120, so that the arms 54 and bracket 120 form the U- shaped carriage structure 52. The outer face 122 of the bracket web 124 is connected at its four corners to ball bushings 126 which support the carriage 52 on a pair of horizontal shafts 128 carried in blocks 130 fixedly mounted to the frame. The carriage is moved along the shafts 128 by the piston 132 of an air cylinder 134 fixed to the frame 13. The piston 132, which is connected to bracket 120 moves the carriage between a position, in alignment with the plunger assembly 50, and a discharge point disposed over the chamber 58. As shown in FIG. 5, a base plate 138 is fixedly mounted to the frame 13 below the carriage arm 54 to support the container against downward movement in the carriage when said carriage is in its,receiving position. A plurality of rods 140 are mounted on the frame above the carriage to bear against the top of the container so that the cover panel remains securely positioned in parallelism with the bottom panel 30. A blocking bar 142 is also mounted in the frame transversely to, and below, the rods 140, to limit the containers lateral movement by the plunger assembly 50, and to position it for its perpendicularly lateral movement toward the drying chamber 58.

A second limit switch (not shown) is actuated when the plunger assembly 50 completes its lateral movement, thereby controlling a valve (not shown) which causes the carriage piston 132 to retract into the cylinder 134. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, the carriage 52 is moved laterally through the machine between its extended position and the drying chamber 58 and passes an arm-actuated glue gun 144, mounted on the frame, which applies glue to the container front panel 36. A folding plow 145, mounted on the frame between the drying chamber 58 and the glue gun 144, folds the container sealing flap 48 downwardly against the glued portion of the front panel 36 as the container continues its lateral movement toward the chamber 58.

The plow 145, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, comprises a triangularly shaped vertical plate mounted on the frame at an angle with the path of movement of the front panel 36. The leading edge 147 of the plow slants downwardly toward its trailing edge 146. Thus, as shown in FIG. 9, the sealing fiap 48 is folded downwardly and inwardly against the front panel as the container moves along in the carriage. A roller 148 is carried on a pin 149 mounted on the frame at right angles to the carriage path between the glue gun 144 and the plow 145. The bottom of the roller is positioned to engage the cover panel 32 to hold it down as the container moves past the glue gun 144 and plow 145.

As the container reaches the end of its lateral movement in the carriage 52 a third limit switch (not shown) is actuated to control a valve for operating the piston 150 of a fourth air cylinder 152 to retract and draw the plunger plate 56 downward, thereby forcing the container into the drying chamber 58.

As shown in FIG. 10, the chamber comprises four vertical plates 156 attached to the frame 13 to form a rectangle, dimensioned to apply pressure against the sealing flap 48 and the outer flaps 44 and 46 of the container as it is forced downward through the shaft. The upper edges of the shaft plates are beveled, as shown at 158, to ease the reception of the container as the plunger 56 forces it therewithin. The plunger plate 56 is connected by a pair of brackets 160 to a pair of ball bushings 162 which slide on a pair of vertical guide shafts 164 mounted at their ends in blocks 166 attached to the frame 13. The piston 150 is attached to the brackets 160, and therefore movement of the piston causes movement of the plunger plate. The drying chamber 58 extends vertically through the machine and is formed at its lower end into an eject chamber 168 having a base plate 170, and having a height which is slightly greater than the height of a sealed container.

The eject plunger assembly 59 is horizontally movable Within the chamber 168 to eject the sealed containers from the cabinet opening 60. The moving means associated with the eject plunger differs from the moving means for the other movable elements of the machine, only by the fact that it performs its work as its piston 174 is extended from its air cylinder 176, instead of as its piston is retracted. The eject plunger assembly 59 moves below, and in arallel with, the carriage 52, and it comprises a vertical plunger plate 178 attached to a pair of vertical runners 180 having a greater height than the plate 17 8 and extending perpendicularly therefrom away from the opening 60. A pair of horizontal support plates 182 are mounted on the runners 180, extending outwardly therefrom and having bushings 184 attached at their outer ends for support on a pair of horizontal guide shafts 186. The shafts 186 are held at their ends in blocks 188 fixed to the floor plate 170. The piston 174 is attached to the runners 182 to effect the reciprocating horizontal movement of the plunger assembly 59.

The vertical plunger plate 17 8 has a height which is less than the height of the sealed containers, and as its cooperating piston 174 is extended the plate 17 8 engages the container within the eject chamber and discharges it from the machine. The runners 180 are slanted on their upper face, at their attachment to the plate 178, as shown at 190, so that the container adjacent the lowermost container is forced upward by the slanted portions 190 of the runners to rest on the horizontal upper faces of the runners. As the piston 174 is retracted, said adjacent container may drop down to the floor 170, in position to be ejected from the opening 60 on the next cycle of the piston 174.

In the preferable sequence of operation of the machine, with all pistons, except the plunger piston 150, initially extended:

(a) Vacuum is applied to the cups 20 by depressing the foot pedal 26, and a button is pressed on the control panel 28 causing the platen piston 82 to retract, and causing the vertical plunger piston 150 to extend;

(b) The partially folded blank 16 operates a first limit switch 92 as it completes its descent, and said limit switch 92 releases the vacuum and retracts the horizontal plunger piston 96, thereby causing the horizontal plunger assembly 50 to move the blank 16 toward the carriage;

(c) As the horizontal plunger 50 completes its excursion a second limit switch is contacted for retracting the carriage piston 132 and the eject piston 174 and for extending the platen piston 82;

((1) As the carriage 52 completes its excursion it contacts a third limit switch which retracts the vertical plunger piston 150 and extends the horizontatl plunger piston 96; and

(e) As the vertical plunger completes its downward movement it contacts a fourth limit switch for extending the carriage piston 132 and the eject piston 174, leaving all of the pistons in their initial conditions ready for the start of the next cycle.

The machine described herein is primarily for use with glue which requires drying time before it can properly seal the paperboard. If, however, a glue known in the trade as hot-melt glue is applied by the glue guns 108 and 144, then the container does not require time to dry, and it may be ejected from the machine as the carriage completes its excursion.

If it is desired to staple the container together, the glue guns 108 and 144 may be eliminated from the machine and the container may be ejected by the carriage 52.

By modifying the blank 16, the machine can be used to package bulk articles. The blank 16' as shown in FIG. 11 is identical with the blank shown in FIG. 2 except that the bottom outer end flaps 44' are cut to extend over the full height of the resultant container. Thus, as the blank 16' is pulled downwardly by the vacuum platen 18 the bottom outer flaps 44' are folded and supported in an upward position by the rods 22d and 222; and, bulk articles may be deposited in the semi-folded container, which is carried through the machine as described above.

I claim:

1. A machine for folding a scored paperboard blank into a box, comprising:

a supporting frame,

a platen disposed at one end of the frame and movable between a raised position adjacent the upper end of the frame and a lowered position within the frame, means on said platen for releasably retaining said blank thereon for movement therewith,

a plurality of folding-members mounted on the frame and surrounding said platen intermediate its raised and lowered positions to partially fold the blank along a first set of score lines as said blank is moved toward said lowered position,

a plunger mounted on the frame below the plane of said folding members, and a blank-supporting carriage mounted on the frame for communication with said plunger, said plunger being engageable with the partially folded blank for moving said blank from said platen to said carriage, and said carriage being movable between said plunger and a box discharge point,

first plow means mounted on the frame for engagement with the partially folded blank as it is moved by said plunger to further fold said blank along a second set of score lines,

second plow means mounted on the frame adjacent the path of carriage movement and engageable with the partially folded blank to further fold said blank along a third scored line, and

means for sequentially moving said platen, plunger,

and carriage.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 with the addition that a plurality of adhesive applicators are mounted on the frame adjacent the path of movement of the plunger between said first plow means and the platen, and an additional adhesive applicator is mounted on the frame adjacent the path of movement of the carriage between said plunger and second plow means, said adhesive applicators being adapted to apply adhesive to selected portions of the blank as it is moved thereby.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1, in which said first plow means comprises a pair of vertical plates which slant convergingly toward the carriage, the leading edges of said plates being disposed toward the platen and having a V-shaped notch formed therein.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1, in which said carriage comprises a U-shaped member having its free ends lying in a horizontal plane and extended toward the platen.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which said platen comprises a plate having a plurality of interconnected arms, and a plurality of vacuum cups mounted on said arms and interconnected to a vacuum source.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5 in which said plate is movably supported on a plurality of guides and is connected to a reciprocating air-cylinder assembly.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which said platen comprises a plate having a plurality of interconnected arms, and a plurality of vacuum cups mounted on said arms and interconnected to a vacuum source, and said folding members comprise a plurality of horizontally disposed rods forming a rectangular border around the path of movement of said platen, and a plurality of blocks disposed at the corners of said border.

8. A machine for folding a scored paperboard blank into a box, comprising a supporting frame,

a platen disposed at one end of the frame having a plurality of spaced arms and movable between a raised position adjacent the upper end of the frame and a lowered position within the frame, means on said platen arms for releasably retaining said blank thereon for movement therewith,

a plurality of folding-members mounted on the frame and surrounding said platen intermediate its raised and lowered positions to partially fold the blank along a first set of score lines as said blank is moved toward said lowered position,

a plurality of rails mounted on said frame in alignment with the spaces between said platen arms for removing the blank from said arms as the platen is moved to its lowered position,

a plunger mounted on said frame, and a blank-supporting carriage mounted on the frame for communication with said plunger, said plunger extending through said rails for engagement with the partially folded blank and for moving said blank along said rails from said platen to said carriage, and said carriage being movable between said plunger and a box discharge point,

first plow means mounted on the frame for engagement with the partially folded blank as it is moved by said plunger to further fold said blank along a second set of score lines,

second plow means mounted on the frame adjacent the path of carriage movement and engageable with the partially folded blank to further fold said blank along a third scored line, and

means for sequentially moving said platen, plunger, and

carriage.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 in which said rails extend between said platen and carriage, and said carriage comprises a U-shaped member having its free ends lying in a horizontal plane and extended toward said rails.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 8 in which said first plow means comprises a pair of vertical plates mounted along the sides of said rails and slanted convergingly toward the carriage, the leading edges of said plates being disposed toward the platen and having a V-shaped notch formed therein.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 1 with the addition that a vertical chamber is mounted on the frame at said discharge point and comprises a plurality of walls forming an open-ended vertical structure having its upper end even with the lower edge of said carriage, and a vertically movable plunger mounted on the frame above said chamber and movable between a raised position above the carriage and a lowered position even with the lower edge of the carriage for transferring a folded box from the carriage into said chamber.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 11 with the addition that an ejecting plunger is mounted on the frame adjacent the bottom thereof, said ejecting plunger being movable transversely across the bottom of said chamber for ejecting the lowermost folded box from said chamber.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 12 in which said plunger is provided with a pair of upwardly projecting longitudinally extending runners engageable with the next to the lowermost box in said chamber for supporting said box during the plunger ejecting movements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1957 Clement 93-51 9/1961 Clanin et a1 53383 X U.S. Cl. X.R. 53-232, 337

@ 3 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 315211.914 Dated October 6, 1970 Inventor(s) Maurice G. Franklin It is certified that error appears in the above-identified peten t and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 24, change "1,7" to -78-.

3161653 AND QFALEP (S Afloat:

mm M. HGT-Cher I1. E. m

Officer fiomissionor of Patents 

